Sciencemadness Discussion Board

pH ~8 buffer

soma - 3-10-2018 at 05:26

I'm looking for a buffer solution that would be suitable for eye drops at a pH of ~8.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

Tsjerk - 3-10-2018 at 05:48

Either phosphate or citrate.

https://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S1529-1839(04)70035-4/pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj6hNXWs-rd AhWJaFAKHW53B1gQFjADegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw16v0xUSOd5qUJWgS30na0S

fusso - 3-10-2018 at 05:51

How come this is in radiochemistry?

pantone159 - 3-10-2018 at 06:30

Some eye drops (e.g. 'Visine') use a borate buffer.

soma - 3-10-2018 at 07:18

I was trying to post in "biochemistry". But thanks for the replies.

Metacelsus - 29-12-2018 at 22:07

If you are making eye drops, be careful to ensure sterility. You wouldn't want to get any nasty eye infections.

Tsjerk - 30-12-2018 at 00:19

Sterilization through autoclaving is easy, if you don't have an autoclave (pressure cooker) you can also cook it au bain-marie.

phlogiston - 30-12-2018 at 10:24

Not your question, but make sure to match osmolality as well. OTC solutions for lenses contain a borate buffer. pH 8 is at the lower end of the range in which borate has useful buffer capacity (pH 8-10)

Out of curiosity, why would you want to make eye drops yourself?

Because this was previously in radiochemistry, I thought you might be trying to prepare an atropine eye-drop solution, as people did in the early days of research on radioactivity. They used to drop atropine solution in their eyes to widen their pupils, which allowed them to see alpha-particle scintillations more readily.